Natick school race already heating up

Voters won't choose members of the School Committee for another six months, but interest, debate and even some heated exchanges got started this week.

Charlie Breitrose/Daily News staff

Voters won't choose members of the School Committee for another six months, but interest, debate and even some heated exchanges got started this week.

Appearing before a joint meeting of the School Committee and selectmen were six hopefuls applying to fill the seat vacated by Rick Wynn. The joint board chose David Margil, who helped lead the "Yes" on the override campaign last spring, but the choice left a bad taste for some.

Following the vote one of the applicants, Erich Thalheimer, had a brief but heated exchange with School Committee member Dave Murphy, according to witnesses.

Both men declined to comment on the incident.Another discussion occurred in Town Hall a few minutes later that was less heated, but still passionate. Jimmy Brown, a co-chairman of the Natick Forever PAC - a recently formed group that plans to back candidates who support "traditional Natick" - discussed the vote with School Committee Chairman Stephen Meyler.

Brown said he just wanted to give Meyler his opinion that he did not think the right choice was made to fill the open seat. Meyler said they have had similar discussions in the past.

"Mr. Brown and myself have been in conversations over the last year over the Redmen issue. We had an opportunity to continue our conversation after the meeting," Meyler said. "We had, as always, a good healthy, respectable debate. There is nothing wrong with it. That's what builds strength in the community."

Brown's group was borne out of the Redmen Forever group, which sought to preserve the high school's nickname, but Brown said the new group is focused on making sure all residents are represented in town government.

"We would like all the voices of Natick to be heard, from the baby just born in Leonard Morse Hospital to the unfortunate individual who may be in hospice, and everyone in between," Brown said. "Clearly there are different needs for different people, and they need to be heard. They need to be addressed within the budgetary constraints of the town."

Last year, with a ballot question asking the School Committee to reconsider its decision to end the use of the Redmen name, none of incumbent School Committee members faced a challenger. After the School Committee voted for the second time to stop using the Redmen name, interest seemed to peak, Brown said.

This year six people came forward for the one appointment, and some seem poised to run next March. The fact that the School Committee race is already attracting interest did not surprise Meyler.

"As a community we are coming out of an emotional, some might say cultural issue of the Redmen name," Meyler said. "Emotion is something that doesn't dissipate that fast. It takes time to heal."

Meyler's term ends in March, and he said he has not made up his mind whether to run for a second term.

"Clearly people are starting to think about the election process. I haven't had an opportunity to sit back and think about this," Meyler said. "It's been a very busy three years. We as a committee hired an interim superintendent, a superintendent, had an override, as well as significant public issues."

Karen Adelman-Foster, whose term on the School Committee will also expire this spring, said she is leaning toward seeking a second term. Right now she said she wants to work to improve the education provided to Natick children even in the face of what could be a very difficult budget year.

"I'm mostly focused on the issues right in front of us, there are pretty important ones," Adelman-Foster said. "I'm pretty sure I'm running, but I haven't made a final decision."

Margil must run to keep his seat in March, which he said during his interview for the appointment he planned to do. Two of the others who came forward this week said they will run or are likely to run.

Nanci Farquharson, who received one vote for the appointment, said she will be in the race. She hopes she has a leg up on the competition, as someone who has been active in Natick schools since her children - now high schoolers - started elementary school, and with her background as a seventh-grade social studies teacher in Ashland.

"We need people who understand a combination of the education process, and who know how (the state's) Education Reform affects things," Farquharson said. "As well as, people who can understand the financial side."

Thalheimer, who also got one vote for the appointment, is seriously considering running. No matter what, he wants to support the Natick Forever PAC, of which he is a part.

"I have not made up my mind," Thalheimer said. "The Natick Forever PAC will put up several qualified candidates. I will likely run."

(Charlie Breitrose can be reached at 508-626-3964 or cbreitro@cnc.com.)

Market Place

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA ~ 33 New York Ave., Framingham, MA 01701 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service